He realized he was still holding her when she pulled away, a frown creasing her brow. When he let go, she took a step back. A red flush spread over her neck, and it wasn’t from the sun. No, she was sexually aware of him, and the thought drove him wild. He was so hard he could take her right here, pinned against the rock.
She took another step in the direction of the hut. “I’ve got to get back to work.”
He shook his head in an effort to dislodge the fantasy that had invaded his mind. “Put something on your skin. Do you have after-sun?”
“I’ll get some from the gift shop.”
She backed away and all but ran into their room.
He wanted her, and not just since today. He’d known it from the minute he’d laid eyes on her, but he was going to have one spitting-angry pussycat on his hands when she found out Cain had played her and that she never stood a chance at winning Jerry’s Pub. For now, he didn’t want to think about that. He’d cross that bridge when he got there.
He went for a quick swim to cool off, and by the time he walked back into the room, she stepped from the shower with a towel wrapped around her body. Her hair and skin smelled womanly and fresh, like apples and daisies.
She stopped in her tracks when she saw him, her eyes filled with surprise that bordered on annoyance. “I thought you’d gone.”
“Why would I go anywhere if this is the sight that awaits me?”
“Stop fooling around, Sean,” she said, clicking her tongue.
He liked his name on her lips. A lot. “Turn around, kitten.”
She gave him a narrow-eyed look. “Why?”
He grabbed a bottle of body lotion from the dresser. “It’s going to hurt like hell tonight.”
She caught him off-guard by turning obediently. At first, she clutched the towel between her breasts, but after a moment, she loosened her death grip just enough for the towel to dip, exposing her back.
He squirted the lotion in the palm of his hand, rubbed a little to warm it, and started with her shoulders. Her skin was like warm velvet under his hands. He smoothed the moisturizer into her body with gentle strokes, but what he really wanted was to pull her hard against him.
Yes, he wanted more, but he wasn’t going to rush into anything and fuck up any chance he might have with her. There was the nagging issue of the bar standing between them. He couldn’t explain the situation to her, not without exposing Cain and himself and thereby putting her in danger. Normal people didn’t know about his kind or the existence of teams like the one Mr. Jones commanded. Once he had her safely back on the mainland and his name was on the lease, he’d help her find another place and set her up. With the money Cain would pay him, provided he succeeded, he’d have enough to build Starlight and help her get her business off the ground. When this week was over and Cain Jones was out of his life, he’d take his time to win her trust and to make up for how they were fucking her over.
He brushed his palms down her back and up again. Her skin was as soft as he’d imagined it would be. Slowly, he drew a forefinger down her spine. Goose bumps followed in the wake of his finger. Good. That meant she wasn’t unaffected by his touch, which had gone from casual to something different. Something deeper. Since she didn’t stop him, he continued his path until he reached the towel. Tugging gently on the terrycloth fabric, he exposed the dimples above her ass. Her shoulders weren’t rising and falling, any longer. She was holding her breath. So was he. Having his hands on her was like a Flaming Lamborghini surging through his veins. All the blood in his body rushed to his dick, making him so hard and lightheaded it was a challenge to think straight. If he moved his hand lower, he might not maintain control.
Practicing the utmost constraint, he took more lotion and crouched behind her to smooth it over her calves and up her legs. He lingered in the dips at the back of her knees, imagining exploring those sensitive spots with his lips until Asia stepped out of his reach and cut his erotic daydreaming short.
Looking at him from over her shoulder, she lowered her lashes. “I better hurry or I’ll be late.”
He grabbed his swimming towel from the foot-end of his bed to cover the obvious effect she had on him. “Come to the deck when you finish work tonight. The sunset will be nice.”
Fuck. That was lame. The sunset will be nice? Couldn’t he think of anything better?